Railway traffic controlling apparatus



\ May 26, 1931. B. E. OHAGAN 1,806,817

RAILWAY TRAFFIC CONTROLLING APPARATUS Original Filed u-g- 20. 1930INVENTOR: BYfiia'Ha Q" I //-w ATTORNEY Patented May 26, 1931 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE BERNARD E. OHAGAN, OF SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA,ASSIGNOR TO THE UNION PENNSYLVANIA 3 SWITCH & SIGNAL COMPANY, OFSWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF RAILWAY TRAFFIC CONTROLLINGAPPARATUS Application filed August 20, 1930, Serial No. 476,574. RenewedApril 9, 1931.

My invention relates to railway tratlic controlling apparatus, and hasfor an ob ect the, protection of such apparatus from excessive currentsthat might be injurious.

'5 I will describe one form of apparatus embodying my invention, andwill then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

The accompanying drawing is a diagrammatic View, showing one form ofapparatus embodying my invention.

Referring to the drawing, the reference character A designates a railwayswitch which is actuated by an electric motor M having an armature 1 anda field 2. Operatively connected with the switch is a cut-out conby apole changer L which may be incorporated in a switch lever of aninterlocking machine. The circuit controller P comprises anelectromagnet 9, made up of two windings 9 and 9 and a polarized winding10 which i is preferably provided with a permanently magnetized core 11.Pivotally attached to the core 11 is an armature 12 which is thereforepolarized by flux from the permanent magnet core 11 at such times aswinding 10 i is not carrying current. It follows that when theelectromagnet 9 is supplied with current of one polarity, the armature12 will. be swung in a clockwise direction, but that when currentof theopposite polarity is supplied to .33 electromagnet 9, the armature willbe swung in the opposite direction. The armature 12 controls threepivoted contact yokes 13, 14 and 15 through suitable linkage in suchmanner that the yokes occupy their right-hand ".i ositions when thearmature is swun to the left, and vice-versa.

The reference character B designates a neutral magnet which controls apivoted armature 17, the lower end of which projects into the path ofmovement of a portion of armature 12 to prevent reversal of the armature12 when the neutral magnet B is deenergized. Pivotally attached to thearmature 17 is a link 19 provided with a slot 42 which at times engagesa pin 43 in a rocker arm 70 which carries a contact finger 20. Whenmagnet B is deenergized, the link 19 moves the rocker arm 70 against thebias exerted by spring 44 into a position in which the contact finger 20connects wire 33 with wire 34. WVhen neutral magnet B is energized,however, the spring44 urges the rocker arm 70 into a position whereinthe contact between wires 33 and 34 is interrupted.

The apparatus thus far referred to is illustrated and described inUnited States Letters Patent No. 1722364, granted to'Henry S. Young onthe th day of July, 1929, for railway traffic controlling apparatus.

The reference character It designates an automatic thermal overloadcircuit breaker. The circuit breaker R comprises a primary core 25 onwhich is a winding 23, and a secondary core 24 on which are windings 28and 29. lVinding 23 is connected in series with the motor circuit sothat it carries the entire motor operating current. VVindings 28 and 29have a' common terminal N which is connected to cut-out controller MO bywire51. The other terminals of windings 28 and 29 are respectivelyconnected to contacts 46 and 37 of thermal relays T and T Armature 21 ofthe circuit breaker is normally held open by rod 27 due to thecompression of spring 22 andthe attraction of armature 26. When armature21 is attracted, detent 57 will be raised, raising link 19 and thusdisengag ing slot 43 from pin 42 and opening contact 33-34. The parts ofthe circuit breaker R are so designed that as long as either of the twowindings on core 24 is fully energized. the maximum amount of currentthat can be drawn by the switch motor, passing through coil 23, will notattract the armature 21 of coil23 against the pull of the armature 26 byeither coil 28 or 29.

As shown in the drawing, the switch A occupies its normal position; theneutral magnet B is deenergized thereby locking armature 12 of circuitcontroller P in its left? hand position; and the pole-changer L on theswitch lever occupies its normal position.

When the switch is to be moved to thereverse position, pole-changer Lwill be resourceof current. The holding coil.29 associated with themotor circuit is connected across the armature 1 and is. energized bythe voltage drop across this armature. The holding coil 29 is connectedacrossarmature 1' through wire 36, wire. 39, contact 38, contact 37,wire 48, winding 29, terminalN, wire 51,- controller arm 50, contact 3,winding 18, wire 45, yoke 14, flexible connector 53', wire 47 and wire41.

When the switch Amoves to the normal position from the reverse, themotor circuit is from terminal BH, through w1re 7 vwire 18, winding 23,wire 33, contact 20, wire 34,

wire 32, yoke 14, flexible, connector 53', wire 47, wire 41, armature 1,wire 36, wire flexible connector 54, yoke 13, wire 40, winding 16,contact 4, controller'arm 50, and field V 2 to terminal CH. The holdingcoil associated with this circuit is winding 28,-and it is connectedacross armature 1 through wire 41, wire 31,. contact 5 6,contact 46,wire58,

winding 28, terminal N, wire. 51, controller arm 50, contact 4, winding16, wire 40, yoke 13, flexible connector 54, wire-35, and wire36.

In describing the operation of the apparatus, I will' assume itisdesired to move the switchto the reverse position.- Pole-changer Lwillv be reversed, so that current will flow through neutral relay B,thus attracting armature 17 andclosing suitable-contactssothat'thepola'rity of relay P is reversed, and

' armature 12 will move to the right in which position itis locked andarmature 17 isagain released. The movement of armature 12 to v V theright will move yokes 1'3, 14 and 15 to the le t, completing the motor,circuit when armature 17 is released, thereby closing con-' tact 3334through contact 20, and the 1 switch willmove tothe reverse position. Ifan obstruction occurs in switch A while move fss ing to the 7 reverseposition, the motor current will rise above the value necessary tooperate thermal relay T and. contact 3738 will 7 open, openingv theholding coil circuit. With the holding coil circuitopen, armature 26: isnot attracted, and armature 21 will be pulled down by the attraction ofenergized coil 23. Detent57 will then raise link 19, disengaging slot.43 from pin 42, and arm will move to the right due to the bias exertedby compressed-spring44. Contact 33.34 will there fore be opened,openingthe motor circuit. The circuit breaker, once having been tripped,

will not reset until the controller P has moved ing link 19 so that slot43 engages pin 42.

Armature 17 will close suitable contacts which energize polair'relay P,reversing its;

polarity, and armature'12f'wi ll move to the left, moving yokes 13, 14and 15 to the right, and the'motor circuit will then be completed forreverse rotation when armature 17 is released closing contact 33 34through contact 20. hen the switch returns to the original position, theoperation maybe repeated as first described. v

In a. similar manner it; the switch is to be moved from the reverseposition to thenormal, the pole-changer L is moved to the posi tionshown on the drawing, thus energizing neutral relay B and. attractingarmature17. Armature 17 will close suitable contacts which energizepolar relay P so that armature 12 will move to theleft, and yokes 13,

14 and 15 will move totheright,'eompleting i the motor circuit whenarmature17 is released to close contact 33-341 through con-" tact 20.The switch will then move to the normal position. If anobstructionoccurs in switch A whileit is moving tothe normal position, the motorcurrent will rise above the value necessary'to operate thermal relay T,'and contact 46.56 will open, openingthe holding coil circuit. With theholding coil circuit open, armature 26 will not be attracted, andarmature 21 will be pulled down by the attraction of energizedcoil- 23.De-

tent 57 will then raise link- 19, disengaging slot 43 from pin 42, andarm 7 0 will move to f the right due to'thebias exerted by. com-.pressedspring 44. Contact33-34 will then be opened, opening the motorcircuit. The

- circuit breaker beingtrippedwill notreset until, controller P hasmoved to the opposite position. Resetting'the controller is accomplishedby reversing pole-'changer'L, thus energizing neutral relay B andattracting armature 17 and movinglink 19 so that slot 43; engagespin'42, Armature 17Iwi1l'elose suitable contacts which energize polarrelay P, reversing its polarity, and armature 12 will move to the right,moving yokes 13, .14, and 15 to the left,.andthe motor circuit will becompleted when armature 17 is released to close contact 3334' throughcontact 20.

WVhen switchA returns'to the original posi- 7 tion, the operation mayberepeated asbefore described. With apparatus embodying, my invention, itis possible to restore the switch toitsi last operatedpositionimmediately and to" attempt to operate the switch again in thedi rection in which it failedas'soon as thether malrelay for thatdirectionhas cooled so as to complete the holding coil circuit.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of apparatusembodying my invention, it is understood that various changes andmodifications may be made therein within the scope of the appendedclaims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

'1. In combination, a railway switch, an electricmotor for operatingsaid switch, a normal and a reverse thermal relay each having a heatingwinding and a normally closed contact, a circuit controller operated bysaid switch and having a first contact closed in all positions of theswitch except the reverse and a secondcontact closed in all positionsofthe switch except the normal, a normal operating circuit for saidmotorincluding the heating winding ofsaid normal the mal relay and the secondcontact of said circuit controller, and a reverse operating circuit forsaid motor including the heating winding of said reverse thermal relayand the first contact of said circuit controller, a circuit breakerhaving a first and a second core for controlling the supply of currentto said motor, a winding on the first core of said circuitbreakeri'ncluded in both of said motor circuits and constituting a meansfor tripping said circuit breaker, and two windings on the second coreof said circuit breaker connected in turn across the armature of saidmotor and energized through a contact of one or the other of saidthermal relays and when energized acting to prevent tripping of saidcircuit breaker.

2. In combination, a railway switch, an electric motor for operatingsaid switch, two thermal relays each having a heating winding and anormally closed contact, two circuits for said motor each including theheating winding of one or the other of said thermal relays, means forsupplying current to one of said circuits or the other to causeoperation of the motor in one direction or the other, a circuit breakerincluding a first and a'sec- 0nd core for controlling the supply ofcurrent to saidmotor, a winding on the first core of said circuitbreaker included in both of said motor circuits and constituting a meansfor tripping said circuit breaker, and two windings on the second coreof said circuit breaker connected in turn across the armature of saidmotor and energized through a contact of one or the other of saidthermal relays and when energized acting to prevent tripping of saidcircuit breaker.

3. In combination with an electric motor, an operating circuitfor saidmotor, a circuit controller for controlling the'supply of current tosaid motor comprising a first and a second core, a winding on saidfirstcore included in said operating circuit and constituting a means foroperating said circuit controller, and means responsive to the magnitudeof the current supplied to said motor for governing the flux in saidsecond core to prevent operation of said circuit, controller.

4. In combination with an electric motor, an operating circuit for saidmotor, a circuit controller for controlling the supply of current tosaid motor comprising a first and a second core, a winding on said firstcore included in said operating circuit and constituting a means foroperating said circuit controller, and thermal means responsive to themagnitude of the current supplied to said motor for governingthe flux insaid second core to prevent operation of said circuit controller. r I

5. In combination with an electric motor, a first winding, a governingcircuit for said motor including said first winding, a second Winding, acircuit controller for-controlling the supply of current to said motorand controlled jointly by said two windings, an operating circuit forsaid second winding, and means responsive'to the magnitude of thecurrent in said governing circuit for controlling the operating circuitfor said second windin 6. In combination with an electric motor,

a first winding, a governing circuit for said .r

motor including said first winding, a second winding, a circuitcontroller for controlling the supply of current to said motor andcontrolled j ointly'by said two'windings, an operating circuit for saidsecond winding, and thermal means responsive to the magnitude of thecurrent in said governing circuit for controlling the operating circuitfor said second winding.

7. In combination, an electric motor, two circuits for said motor, meansfor supplying current to one of said circuits or the other to causeoperation of the motor in one direction or the other, a circuitcontroller for controlling the supply of current to said motorcomprising a first and a second core, an operating winding on said firstcore included in both of said motor circuits and constituting a meansfor operating said circuit controller, two holding windings on saidsecond core acting when energized to prevent operation of said circuitcontroller, an operating circuit for each of said holding windings, andmeans included in each of said motor circuits and responsive to themagnitude of the current supplied to said motor for controlling theoperating circuitof the holding Winding associated therewith.

8. In combination, an electric motor, two circuits for said motor, meansfor supplying current to one of said circuits or the other to causeoperation of the motor in one direction or the other, a circuitcontroller for controlling the supply of current to said motor, anoperating winding included in both of tween a first and a secondposition, an electric motor for operatingsaid device, acircuitcontroller operated by said device and having a first contact closedinall'positions ofthe device except the-second. and a second con tactclosed in all positions of the device ex cept the first, a firstoperating circuit for said motor including the second-- contact of saidcircuit controller, a second operating circuit forsaid, motor includingthe first contact of said circuit controller, a circuit breaker forcontrolling the supply of current to said motor having a first and asecond core, an operating winding on said first core included in both ofsaid motor circuits and cons'tituts ing a means for tripping saidcircuit breaker for controlling the supply of current to saidmotor, anoperating winding included iii:

er, two holding windings on said second core acting when energized toprevent tripping of said circuit breaker, an operating circuit for eachof said holding windings, and means included in each of said motorcircuits and responsive to the magnitude of the current supplied to saidmotor'for controlling the operating circuit of the holding windingassociated therewith. I

10. In combination, a device movable betweena first and a secondposition, an electric motor for operating said device, a circuitcontrolleroperat-ed by said device and having a first contact closed inall positions of the device except-the second. and a second contactclosed in all positions of'the device exceptthe first, a first operatingcircuit for said motor including the second contact of said circuitcontroller-,a second operating circuit for said motor including thefirst contact of saidicircuit controller, a circuitbr'eakin both of saidmotor circuits and constituting a'means for operating said circuitbreaker,t\vo, holding windings acting when energized to preventoperation ofsaid circuit breaker, an operating circuit for each of saidholding windings, and means included in each of said motor circuits andresponsive to the magnitude of the currentsupplied to said motor forcontrolling the: operating circuit. of the" holding winding associatedtherewith.

' 11. Incombination with anelectric motor,

an operating circuit for said motor. a circuit controller forcontrolling the supply of current to saidmotor comprising a first and asecond" core, an operating winding on said nsoas 'z first core includedin said operating circuit,

and constituting ameans for-"operating said circuit controller, aholding winding on said I second coreactingwhen; energized to preventrent to said-motor comprising afirst and a second core, an operatingwinding on said first core included in said operating circuit andconstituting. ameans for operating said circuit controller, axholdingwinding on said secondcoreacting whenenergizedto prevent operation of!said circuitcontroller, a control circuit for said holding winding, andthermal means included insaidoperating circuit and responsive to themagnitudeofthe current supplied to said motor for. governs ing saidcontrol circuit. r L i 1 In combfnatioma railway switch, an electricmotor foroperating said switch, a normahanda reverse thermal-relayeachhavingaheatingwinding and j'a contact, a circuit controller operated-bysaid switch and having a: first contact closed inall positions-of theswitch except the reverse and a second contact closed in all positionsof the switch except the'normal, a normal operating circuit for saidmotor including the heating winding of said normal thermal relay and thesecond contact of said circuit controller, and a reverse operatingcircuit vfor said motor including the heating winding of said reversethermal relay and; the first contact of said a circuit controller, acircuit breaker having a first and a secondcore'for controllingthesupplyofi current to said motor, a .vs inding on V the first core ofsaid circuit breaker included in both of said motor circuits and.constituting a means for tr pping saidclrcuit breaker,

two windings on said: second corelacting when energized to preventtripping. of said circuitjbreaker, and an operating vcircuit for I eachof said twowindings; controlled by a contact of the thermal relayassociated there;

with.

14. In; combination, a railway switclnjan I electric motor foroperatingsaid switch, a normal and a reverse thermal relay each having a heatingwinding and a contact,-a circuit controller operated by said switch andhaving a, first contact closed in all positions of the switch except thereverse and a second contact closed in all positions of the switchexcepttheinormal, a normal operating circuit for said motor including theheating winding of said'normal thermalrelay and the second contact ofsaid circuit controller,

and a reverse operating circuit for said motor I 30 an operating circuitfor each of said two including the heating winding of said reversethermal relay and the first contact of said circuit controller, acircuit breaker for controlling the supply of current to said 5 motor,an operating winding included in both of said motor circuits andconstituting a means for operating said circuit breaker, two holdingwindings acting when energized to prevent operation of said circuitbreaker, and an operating circuit for each of said two windingscontrolled by a contact of the thermal relay associated therewith.

15. In combination, a railway switch, an electric motor for operatingsaid switch, two thermal relays each having a heating winding and acontact, two=- circuits for said motor each including the heatingwinding of one or the other of said thermal relays, means for supplyingcurrent to one of said circuits or the other to cause operation of themotor in one direction or the other, a circuit breaker having a firstand a second core for controlling the supply of current to said motor, awinding on the first core of said circuit breaker included in both ofsaid motor circuits and constituting a means for tripping said circuitbreaker, two windings on said second core acting when energized toprevent tripping of said circuit breaker, and

windings controlled by a contact of the thermal relay associatedtherewith.

16. In combination, a railway switch, an electric motor for operatingsaid switch, two thermal relays each having a heating winding and acontact, two circuits for said motor each including the heating windingof one or the other of said thermal relays, means for supplying currentto one of said circuits or the other to cause operation of the motor inone direction or the other, a circuit breaker for controlling the supplyof current to said motor, an operating Winding included in both of saidmotor circuits and constituting a means for tripping said circuitbreaker, two holding windings acting when energized to prevent trippingof said circuit breaker, and an operating circuit for each of saidholding windings controlled by a contact of the thermal relay associatedtherewith.

In testimong whereof I aflix my si ature.

ERNARD E. OHA AN.

